What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by vehicle shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence across the nation, or moving your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping companies provide a variety of services to accommodate different requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipment or transporting a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a possibility, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the vehicle transport company's locations or operating bases. While this alternative is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the automobile home. Most individuals, however, opt for a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are generally categorized into two types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for shipment.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's across the nation or to another state. The advantages of this approach include lower costs, as trailers & an additional vehicle are not necessary, & quicker delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to this method that cause some individuals to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the trip, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of harm to your vehicle while it is being operated. These concerns are especially relevant for individuals buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate it to its destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, which transport only one car at a time, are often more expensive but are a great choice for moving expensive or classic cars that require extra care. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is also the most costly option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles at once, come in a few variants:
Open car shipping is the most affordable & most common option for transporting a vehicle. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple cars on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is often preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during transport.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The cost of transporting a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, auto transport companies in the US charge around $2.92 per mile for journeys less than 200 miles, $0.93 for journeys between 200 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages, & your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from different companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Several factors can affect the cost of auto transport, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the most affordable option.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase the cost of vehicle transport.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings can result in lower costs, while expedited shipping in a strict timeframe typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: Larger automobiles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans due to the need for bigger trailers.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost of auto transport.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the most affordable option, while enclosed car shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas with common routes tend to have cheaper vehicle shipping, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance beyond the required liability insurance can affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality plays a role, with winter being the most expensive time to ship a vehicle due to weather conditions & holidays.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be a daunting task. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a detailed quote application. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply makes it easy to find the right vehicle shipping service by allowing you to fill out a simple form to start collecting quotes. All you need to provide is the make & model of the vehicle, the pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the automobile. This information enables auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & via email. It's recommended to keep email notifications turned on so you can be immediately notified when a new quote arrives. Quotes can start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, but it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
When you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure vehicles during transport. It's important to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system is another valuable resource when selecting a vehicle shipping company. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Zachary, Louisiana
Zachary, a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, is a popular destination for vehicle shipping due to various reasons. Many people relocate to Zachary for its excellent school system, low crime rates, & affordable housing options. The city's proximity to Baton Rouge, the state capital, also makes it an attractive location for those who work in the city but prefer a more suburban lifestyle. Additionally, Zachary is home to several large employers, such as Georgia Pacific & Walmart, which attract new residents to the area.
On the other hand, people may also need to ship their vehicles from Zachary when relocating for work, family, or educational purposes. College students from Zachary attending universities in other states may require vehicle shipping services to bring their automobiles to & from campus. Military personnel stationed at nearby bases, such as Fort Polk or Barksdale Air Force Base, may also need to ship their vehicles when deploying or returning home to Zachary.
Whether moving to or from Zachary, Louisiana, vehicle shipping services provide a convenient & safe way to transport automobiles, ensuring a smooth transition for residents & their vehicles.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
Time-efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form & can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning companies & inputting details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all your zachary vehicle transportation data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle transportation estimate is the most crucial aspect in choosing which auto transport company to employ to move your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average costs & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information & filling in specifics. Although this is reasonable, it means that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't precisely a simple process. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from vehicle transportation companies & compare them in one place, offering the opportunity to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Transportation Zachary - Auto transport businesses on Shiply can usually provide their services at a reduced rate compared to going directly to them. This is because they are frequently seeking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are just aiming to ensure they aren't wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Eco-Friendlier - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more economical, but it is also more environmentally friendly! In the above scenario, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many people who could have utilized that transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Getting Ready For Your Vehicle To Be Transported
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to get your vehicle ready for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Paperwork - It is crucial to make sure that any documents you may require are accessible at pick up or drop off, particularly if you are selling your vehicle.
Cleansing - You should take care to remove all personal belongings from your vehicle before shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want to risk them getting lost or damaged in transit. It is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle before transport as this will allow you to determine its condition & notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Operational Condition - If the vehicle will be driven at any point during shipping or driven home from the drop-off location then you should ensure that it is in operational condition. This means ensuring that there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge & tire pressure levels. Again this can also help you better assess the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Proof - One very important thing to do when preparing your vehicle for the car delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the car. This provides you with evidence of the car's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
Once the car shipping company you selected has completed their delivery, there are a few things you should do:
Examine Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, & engines should all be checked immediately to ensure that the car is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the car delivery service should anything not be working as it should.
External Condition - You can compare the exterior of the vehicle to the photos taken of it before to determine whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a car can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your car transport service has not done so.
Verify Mileage - This is more relevant to car shipping services where the car is driven to the destination but it can help to check the mileage to ensure that it matches up with the journey taken.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could also leave a review for the auto transport company you used through Shiply so that others can browse car shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about car shipping:
How much to ship a car?
Car shipping prices can vary drastically depending on the circumstances, but on average a journey should cost you around $2.92 per mile if the journey is less than 200 miles, $0.93 if the journey is between 200 & 500 miles, & if the journey is over 1,000 miles then this drops to $0.78.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car?
Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the cheapest way to ship a car, however, if you need a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the cheapest way to ship a car.
How do I pay for my auto transport?
This is down to each individual auto transport company on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen car delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my car transport online?
Each car shipping company on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your car shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual car transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery?
In most cases, the car shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup & delivery of the vehicle. This is because there are likely to be release forms that you need to sign, as well as handing over the car keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my car shipment?
Most car transport companies will be fine with you keeping some personal items in the vehicle when it is transported. However, there are two important things to remember: 1. The weight of the items may affect the price of the vehicle shipment, & 2. Any items in the vehicle will not be covered by insurance for the transport of the car itself.
How much gas should I have in my vehicle during transit?
Generally, you should aim to have around a quarter of your tank full. This allows for easy loading & unloading of the vehicle but will not add too much extra weight to the vehicle.
Can I ship my vehicle if it isn't running?
You can ship your vehicle if it isn't in running condition, however, this will be more expensive as specialist equipment is required to load & unload the vehicle.
Can I ship a modified vehicle?
Almost any type of vehicle is able to be shipped on Shiply, with hundreds of transport providers available to bid on your job there will always be someone that is up for the job & has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
